Safety book match



Nov. 8, 1938 H. R. HOWLAND SAFETY BOOK MATCH Filed Dec. 24, 1957 IINVENTOR HEN/9V R. HOWlA/VD y ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. s, 1938- PATENTOFFi SAFETY BOOK MATCH lllenry Rowland, Brooklyn, N. Y. ApplicationDecember 2d, 1937, Serial No. 181,483

1 mm.- (Cl. 206-29) My invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in so-called paper match packets. My main object is toconstruct the packet in such a manner as to eliminate the danger ofignitl. ing the attached unused matches by the striking of a detachedmatch on the striking strip of the packet.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1' is a front elevation of thecomplete packet;

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the packet shown in Fig. 1, looking fromleft to right;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation .of said packet, looking from right to left;1 1 Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in adifferent position.

The outside of the packet comprises what I will term an envelope. Thisis preferably made of suitable paper board folded to provide a front 90I and a back 2. The ends of this strip are connected as by a fold 3overlapping the lower end of the back 2 and secured thereto by anysuitable means such as a staple 4, which as shown performs a doublefunction as later described. 5 is ll another staple used to securetogether the edges of the front and back at one side of the'envelope asshown in the drawing for the purpose later described. 6-6 represent aplurality of individual match ends connected to a base I. forming what Iwill term a match strip. In the drawing, two of these match strips areshown. These match strips are normally so positioned that 'all the matchends are within the envelope and protected thereby. In the particularform shown the staple l is so positioned at an angle that one legpenetrates the base i of each match strip near the open edge of theenvelopeso as to serve as a pivot for the match strips whereby they maybe swung or rocked from the normal safety position shown in Fig. 1 tothe exposed or unprotected position shown in Fig. 4, in which positionthe individual match ends are accessible for use as required. The staple5 holds the envelope walls sufficiently close together so that when thematch strips are swung into the safety position shown in Fig. 1

they will be frictionally engaged between the inner surfaces of theenvelope adjacent to the staple, thus preventing the packet from beingaccidentally opened.- A small portion of one or both of the baseportions 1 of the match strips near the pivot end of the staple 4 mayproject slightly-beyond the edge of the envelope, as shown at 1, formingwhat may be termed a trigger for engagement by the finger to permit thematch strips to be swung into the accessible position shown in Fig. 4. 8represents the usual striker 5 surface on which safety matches may bestruck. In the preferred form shown, this surface is formed on orlocated on the outer surface of the base I. When the match strips standin the normal position with the match ends safely housed 1 within theenvelope, access may be had to this striker strip 8 through a slot orwindow in the front I, whereby a detached match may be struck thereon.When the matches are exposed for detachment (Fig. 4), the striker stripis moved 15 away from the slot and is therefore inaccessible forstriking purposes and the match cannot be ignited until the parts havebeen restored to the normal safety posltion.. Inits broadest aspect, myinvention is not limited to locating the striker g strip as sh awn,since a reasonable degree of safety would be guaranteed if it wereotherwise positioned. A

As already indicated, 1 have shown and described only one preferred formof my invention, fully realizing that modifications may be made withinthe scope of the appended claim and without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

In a safety match packet, a paper envelope so formed by a paper stripfolded transversely intermediate its length to close the top end of saidpacket, one free end of said strip being folded over the other free endand united thereto by means penetrating the several thicknesses to closethe lower end of said packet, a paper match strip comprising a pluralityof detachable match ends connected to a transverse strip at the base ofsaid match ends, said paper match strips being wholly enclosed withinsaid envelope when in its safety 0 position, said strip being pivotallymounted near its edge on the aforesaid connecting means to permit saidmatch strip to be rotated to a position to expose the match ends fordetachment, a striker strip on one surface of the base of said 5 matchstrip extending transversely of said match ends, said envelope having atransverse passage I through one wall thereof registering with saidstriker surface only when said packet is closed.

HENRY HOWLAND.

